THE NEUROBIOLOGY AND DEVELOPMENT OF COGNITIVE AND AFFECTIVE CONTROL

Written by Todd A. HARE, B.J. CASEY on 15 December 2006. Posted in Special issue: Developmental Cognitive Neuroscience, Guest Editors: Oana BENGA, Andrei MIU, Volume IX, Nr. 2

Abstract:

Cognitive control has been described and referred to over the years by different terminology including "controlled processing", "central executive" and "attentional bias". We present behavioral and neuroimaging experimental investigations of this psychological construct reflecting top-down control in overriding inappropriate thoughts, actions, and emotions. The ability to override competing actions and emotions is a key component of cognitive and social functioning and at the core of a child's development. We show in a series of behavioral and imaging studies that the development of frontostriatal and frontoamygdala circuitry may underlie mature cognitive and affective control.

Keywords: cognitive control, development, emotion, striatum, prefrontal cortex